>> start with one issue ad guests on all sides of the debate. and a host willing to ask the tough questions and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5pm et / 2pm pt only on al jazeera america >> this is al jazeera america, live from new york city, i'm tony harris. the crisis in ukraine growing at this time. it gave ukrainian ships the ultimatum the right to be seized. diplomats are trying to figure out ways to get russia to pack down in a city council meetinsecurity councilmeeting os

right now. and the crisis in ukraine deepens at this hour. russia denies it issued an ultimatum to the ukrainian ships in the red sea. if russia does not end military operations in ukraine. you are looking live at the united nations, as the security council is figuring out how to deal with the crisis in ukraine. john terret will give us a report in a little bit. nick schifrin is in simferopol. the capitol of crimea. do we have a russian ultimatum on the table or not?

>> according to russia there is none. but according to local journalists who heard a statement coming from russian ships only a few hundred feet off the coast of the crimea, who are basically surrounding the crimea, the answer is yes. those journalists sea they heard an ultimatum being heard from those ships telling the ukrainians they had to give up their weapons, had to disboard, about 3:00 in the morning, 5:00 no. morning, late your time, tony. that goes to say, russia seems to be stepping up its pressure, stepping up its campaign, even though there hasn't been a single shot fired ever since they arrived over the weekend. we traveled over bases across the crimea, we saw russian troops raising the russian fla flags, literally digging

trenches, they were welcomed by the locals and had absolutely no resistance. they were told not to shoot back. russia seems to want to take that next step, disarm ukrainian civilians. officially there is no ultimatum but on the ground there appears to be one. >> if there is some kind of ultimatum, there is a ukrainian vessel in sevastopol surrounded by russian vessels and that ship cannot leave the port. what are you hearing about that? >> this is basically a siege by the russian navy against the ukrainian navy. the ukrainian government knows it can't really face the russian military. the russian military has about eight times the number of troops the ukrainians do. it spends about ten times the amount of money that the

ukrainian military does on its military. there is no sense from this government or from the military itself. you talk to the soldiers and they see eight rows of highly trained troops. they have absolutely no capacity to actually confront what is coming into the peninsula. so that's why you have seen perhaps the government here using a lot of rhetoric. parliament has passed a lot of resolutions but there's been no action against this invasion as the u.s. is calling it and despite that russian seems to be again stepping it up taking that next step trying to distarm ukrainian navy. >> thank you nick. jonathan betz is here to break it all down for us. >> there is a lot at stake. russia is largely in control of crimea. now concerned it may try to push out ukraine's military from that region altogether. russia's black sea neat is based

at the head of simferopol. 25,000 russian soldiers. last weekend, president putin sent in 6,000 more soldiers who then took over largely crimea. has, paravalna sevastopol and balaclava. ukraine's troops remained inside. now fear they may be forced out. ferry terminal on the eastern tip of crimea, 12 miles from russia, a way to send in more troops. the larger concern is president putin may not stop with crimea. russia enjoys lots of support in eastern ukraine. many speak russian. the most recent in the town of

donetske. they are demanding the region split from kiev. this is stoking fears that this could further escalate the conflict. and if it does it is not a fair fight. russia, take a look eas these numberat thesenumbers, has foure troops as ukraine. >> considering several options including sanctions to try and defuse this crisis. mike viqueria is at the white house for us and what more did the president say about the crisis in ukraine today? >> reporter: tony, the president says there are two paths that they can take, they can continue on this path which the president says is a violation of ukraine's territorial integrity. over time the president says this will be a costly proposition. the president says the other

path is that vladimir putin could take what he terms the off-ramps, in other words allow international monitors, this is the proposal that's on the table right now from the u.n. or the osce to go into the crimea and what vladimir putin is concerned about that's the protection of ethnic russians and russian speakers in the crimea. today the prime minister of israel is here, benjamin netanyahu, on any other day that would be dominating the news but today, during photo op, the president was asked about the situation in ukraine and he spoke extensively. this is part of what he had to say. >> what cannot be done is for russia with impunity to put its soldiers ton ground, and -- on the ground and to violate basic principles that are recognized around the world. and i think the strong condemnation that it's received

from countries around the world indicates the degree to which vuz on the wrong side of -- russia is on the wrong side of history on this. >> secretary of state john kerry has a speech on foreign affairs an then gets on a plane and heads for ukraine. he may meet with his russian counterpart sergey lavrov. >> michael, forgive me for the bluntness of this question. when we spend so much time on the international story. why does the u.s. impair the ongoing crisis in ukraine and particularly in crimea? >> that is threshold question, no question about it. that is the first question when the president ultimately faces the press on this that he will

get from the press corps. a destabilized ukraine means a destabilized europe and all kinds of problems for the united states. the president also says today, when congress does return, they're out today on a snow day, he wants them to take up sanctions in coordination with the european union, against russia in retaliation for this. harry reid, the democratic leader says we can't wait, we have to go it alone. only 2% of the trade is done with russia. this affects europeans much more than it does the united states, in a much more direct fangs. any unilateral sanctions from united states wouldn't have the bite unless the europeans are going along with that. there's a considerable amount of consultation going on between the united states and its allies, tony.

>> thank you, mike viqueria. series of standoffs between the russian and ukrainian troops. >> they arrived at the naval base in eastern crimea. certified the ukrainian service men have so far refused to surrender. residents of the village have showed up to lend their support to the russians. to convince the ukrainians inside to switch sides. >> the soldiers pledge to be loyal to ukraine and to the real government chosen by the ukrainians. yatsenyuk and his people, if they join the crimea we will protect them and be grateful to them. i hope they make the right choice. >> people are angry suspicious and feel betrayed by the new government in kiev. america we will not let you through, they shout.

while kiev accuses the russians much invading crimea, for many among the ethnic russian majority who live here, in the semi autonomous region, furthermore, the air field now under russian control. the soldiers don't talk much but one tells me was deployed from russia two days ago and doesn't know how long he will be here. there may be an answer to that at the border that separates the crimean peninsula and the ukrainian mainland where the soldiers are building an encampment. we were prevented from filming. but did speak with one soldier. >> the russians didn't come here to invade. after that the crimean people will make their determination

that will be legitimate among the countries of the world. >> the referendum is set for march 30th. they see this as a chance to distancing themselves from a country they didn't truly belong to. >> translator: we will never become one nation with the western part of ukraine because we have different men talts. our heroes are the soviet soldiers who saved us from the nazis. >> while the international community fears a further escalation, they feel the russian presence is a necessity. al jazeera in crimea. director of the russian funded think tank the institute for democracy and cooperation, it is good to have you on the program. i want to go through a lot of points, as many as i have time to sort through.

first of all great for having you on the program. >> thank you for having me. >> president obama said about an hour ago the steps russia has taken are in violation of ukraine's sovereignty, of territorial sovereignty, violation of international law and in violation of previous agreements. how it treats and respects its neighbors, has the president covered each and every one of these points? good i think unfortunately president as usual one can say no was misled by his advisors. >> was misled? >> absolutely. >> has the eu been misled, has nato been misled? >> sure, sure. russia didn't violate territorial integrity or sovereignty of the government. >> explain that to me. >> john kerry yesterday was claiming russian troops was invading ukraine and all this kinds of horrors, nothing like this happened. they are following the

propaganda machine from kiev who didn't have any clue what's really happening in russia and ukrainian border. the problem in crimea russia doesn't need to same troops. according to agreement between russia and ukraine, russia has a legitimate basis to locate 10,000 troops. they have a bit more 10,000. >> why send troops in now? >> nobody is sending troops. the problem is listen -- >> we have records of troop movements, right? >> no no no no. these troops are the troops who are intord fate intort subordina bases. according to treaty, cruz have up to 25,000 troops but now much

less than 25,000. another thing that's important because crimean authorities were afraid that from kiev, this armed will come and take and seize and capture governmental buildings, airport and do different kind of vandalism which they were doing in kiev. they blocked garrisons or bases where located ukrainian soldiers -- >> you don't see that as a provocation? >> but this is not invasion from russia. >> but you don't see this as a provocation? good this is preemptive actions because we have the pictures when mobs seizing governmental buildings killing the people, kicking out from governmental buildings all legitimate authorities. is this provocation? this is just -- >> you are talking about demonstrations in kiev.

>> not just kiev, western part of ukraine. all these mobsters looking from -- >> don't you think this has an internal conflict, an internal ukrainian conflict to be managed by ukrainians? >> that's true. this is exactly the position of russian authorities. that kiev has nothing to do with moscow. that this is internal conflict. ukraine was deeply divided country. and deeply divided nation. >> sure. >> this is practically two nations and two countries. and in case, this was my early warning, i am dealing with this problem for 25 years. and i warned, the day when nationalists will capture the power in kiev. >> as that's what you feel has happened here? good and this is the gij of the end of ukrainian statehood because the first action dks. >> why are they nationalist and people who saw for their own lives in their own futures a

closer alliance from europe and moscow and russia? >> usually president putin say this many times. let's separate flies on burgers. because flies on burgers are not good. because on kiev, a lot of honest people people were dissatisfied of the situation and the country about corruption and all these kind of things. >> with the yanukovych government? >> yes, that's true, that's true and really this is. but who is commanding the parade over there? the right sector? and extreme nationalists? their slogans under the swas swastika, ukraine for ukrainians. we are kicking out russianed poles jews everybody. , this was outlawing russian language.

today they are outlawing russian language, tomorrow russians. around all -- >> you don't really believe that? >> i believe that absolutely because i am dealing with this 30 years. you don't believe because you -- >> just ask the question. >> you are the victim of propaganda. >> i have my own mind and i'm just asking if this is something you really believe. >> and by the way, this is the reason why at this moment this is not the problem between kiev and moscow. this is the problem with kiev, simferopol, and whom by the way in the east consider far is, this going to behave in a normal way. >> to the extent that is true at all, we are talking about pockets of the resistance movement. wouldn't you say? >> no no no no. >> you just told me moments ago there is a large portion of that

resistance in kiev that -- >> no no no no. >> really? >> as i said, that major groups who practically aren't -- you know enforcing, listen have you seen anyplace in this maybe john kerry are talking about 21st century maidan is practically confirming ministers can you believe that, in washington -- >> it is an interim government, there is going to be a new round of elections starting in late may. >> it's a joke. >> it's a jokes. >> so there's no room for any opposition movement in any country at any time? >> listen, what is important at this moment, the same guys signed the agreement with yanukovych. >> yes. >> in presence of foreign ministers. next day they violated all agreements. this is something which you can say respect to low, this is -- good i'd love to continue this with you.

>> this government in kiev is considered to be -- >> but i can't. >> illegal, not legitimate on behalf of crimea. all these provinces in the east. that's why they have to deal with this. >> i'd love to continue, have to go. thank you, pleasure. >> it's my pleasure. >> let's go live with john terret. the security council is holding a meeting on ukraine right now. and john, what can you tell us about this meeting? >> hey tony, that was a great discussion. most illuminating. welcome to the united nations on the east side of manhattan. the security council is meeting behind me. this is the third meeting in four days that the council has convened to discuss the crisis in ukraine with particular reference to what's going on in the crimea. the other meetings have not really been welcomed by the russians but this one was called by them. vitaly cherkin, passed by.

we asked what are you dwog ask? he said wait for later. but discussing moscow's point of view when it comes to ukraine and the crimea. here is the russian ambassador to the u.n, vitaly cherkin. >> the position remains consistent and open. while some western politicians ukraine is only a geopolitical playground for us it is a fraternal country and we are bound to it by many centuries of common history. russia is interested in a stable ukraine where we see interests of ukrainians of our compatriots and of all citizens. in this extraordinary situation, not of our making, residents of crimea are being subjected to a real threat due to the irresponsible and provocative

actions of gangs and other ultranationalist elements we would like to once again emphasize that the actions of russia are fully appropriate and legitimate. thank you very much, madam president. >> translator: i thank the representative of the russian federation for their statement. i give the floor to the representative of the united states of america. >> thank you, madam president. listening to the representative of russia one might think that moscow had just become the rapid response arm of the high commissioner for human rights. so many of the assertions made by the representative of the russian federation are without basis in reality. let's begin with a clear and candid assessment of the facts. it is a fact that russian military forces have taken over ukrainian border posts, it is a fact that russia has taken over

the ferry terminal in kirchp it is a fact that russian services are blocking mobile services in some areas. it is a fact that russia has surrounded and taken over practically all ukrainian military facilities in crimea, it is a fact that russian jets have entered the air space and jowrchlts continu -- journaliste reported that there is no violence against russian or pro-russian communities. >> tony, that was samantha power, the u.s. ambassador to the united nations security council with her reports to what vitaly cherkin, the russian ambassador, reported. the idea was simply to explain the moscow point of view over crimea, that they have done. don't look for too much action from the security council because five permanent members

have vetoes, one of those vetoes belong to the russians, tony. >> our coverage of ukraine continues with a one-hour special on "america tonight." hear from john ker kerry, and or stories of living through the crisis in crimea, how life has changed here. that is "america tonight," at 9:00 eastern. 6:00 pacific. disneyland says it won't support the boy scouts on its policy against gays. back in a moment.

>> a blow to the boy scouts

today. walt disney company says it will stop donating to the organization because of its policy on gays. roxann. >> this means that walt disney company is not going to give grants to local groups and packs. the symbolic treatment, last years the scouts allowed gay girls and boys to join but that wasn't enough for disney. a spokesman for the scouts say we believe everyone deserves to be a part of the scout experience, i spoke to a former scout leader who says she was ousted because she was gay. she hopes this sends a special message to the scouts. >> i hate to see the boys suffer

financially. unfortunately these kind of things need to happen to make the boy scouts realize that eventually they have to realize that the world is moving forward. and they are not moving forward. they are going to eliminate their importance in society. >> i interviewed another scout leader who said he was kicked out because he is is gay. he hopes the scouts will allow gay leaders in soon. but tony, he is putting too much pressure just now after they just let gay girls and boys join. >> have any other organizations followed in disney's foot tips since the -- footsteps before they announced this policy change? >> they say that companies like lockheed martin and major league soccer have cut ties for now. >> thank you roxann. new effort to sustain

pressure on the deposit and create a great social movement and the crisis in ukraine causing a panic in worldwide markets.

>> despite efforts from the venezuelan government, protests have gone on now for more than a month. president nicholas maduro's

government blame protesters for the majority of the killed individuals. daniel swineler has this report from valence yah venezuelan. >> early morning at valencia's main market. and the turmoil forgotten at least from now. all sides working together in order to live. >> translator: away we're waiting for is an end to these problems so we can take food home to our kids. the country is not in crisis. there's just a few people causing crisis. we want to be united, that's what is lacking in this country. >> i'm a chavez supporter. i want to support him when he was in prison in '93. chavez had a vision for venezuela.

>> there's an abundance of fresh produce. despite regular roadblocks, tightening security measures and crime and corruption have been rampant in venezuela for some time. look closer, however, and many vital items are missing. >> translator: there's no milk, flour or sugar. the most important things they're not there. please stop fighting and pay attention to the people who need food. that's all the people are asking for. >> lydia is searching for sugar and flour without luck. she will have to make do with whatever she can find. >> i've got two kids. i've got to give them other things because there's no flour for bread and it will be without sugar. >> what the current situation means is shoppers mostly women spend endless hours, lost hours in long queues, or walking from one store to the other in search of vital ingredients with only

limited success. was not in doubt is venezuela's abandons of natural resources with markets like this one thriving across the country. life goes on despite problems with distribution, the economy, and politics. there have been no reports of disruption causing hunger or starvation. the longer it goes on the more venezuelans are forced to stretch their patience and the resourcefulness to put food on their tables. dennis shweiman al jazeera venezuela. eric, good to see you thanks for your time. >> thank you. >> as you heard in our previous piece there, there were venezuelans complaint of them who reject this whole movement as a crisis and say it's a few people causing problems. do you see this as a protest, a protest among a small minority

of people in the country? >> well i think it's more than just a small minority. clearly this is the middle classes, it's the student, sure there are some from the upper casts as well but what you don't have this time is a narrow band of folks who are out there for their own economic interests. i think what you're seeing is a broad based rejection if you will of the current direction that the country is on. crime rates, inability to get consumer staples, these are the things that affect everybody. there are people who support the government clearly but this is a broad effort. >> eric, if we are focusing on the opposition movement what's the goal here? does this opposition have an alternative plan for the country or is it all about getting maduro out of power? if i think that's a really good question. when these protests began several weeks ago it had nothing to do with politics.

it had to do with the fact that there was a student raped in the western part of the country and this bubbled up from frustration and the inability of the government to do anything about crime and it was built into the voice of the people being frustrated to get basic consumer goods. but the opposition leadership has come into the effort now and some are calling for the government to change. but i don't really think that was the initial reason for the protest to begin and catch fire in the first place. the question has to be asked, where do you go from here? i don't think the protesters are clearly identifying that they want president maduro to go. they want a change in the direction of the country, they want the president to listen to their demands and get through to the next election which is several years hence and fight the opposition based on defined

issues. >> leopoldo lopez is making this call from jail. >> that's exactly right. the leadership isn't clearly defined. lopez is in jail, taking a harder line position perhaps and i don't think the leadership would be entirely disappointed if president maduro would leave office. i don't think he's going to do so. even from jail, from their perspective to bring about changes economically and on the security side in venezuela. >> does the opposition have to coalesce around a set of issues, then there is henrique capriles. for this movement really gain the kind of traction that could

potentially change the lives of venezuelans? >> i think that's ultimately the direction they would need to go, yes, to identify basic principles and head towards them. there are other opposition leaders too, maria corina machado. they have to speak with one voice and define what they are speaking for. there are basic principles they have already enunciated, country is to -- one is to get leopoldo lopez out of jail. there are basic principles consistent with democracy that i think the protesters have already called for. you're right they need to yufnt aroununifyaround a basic set. >> thank you. russia is calling for a national unity deal even as it tightens its grip on crimea.

solutions while in the capitol of kiev. the new government is urging the russians to get out. phil itner reports. >> the ukrainian government is urging the russians to leave but at the same time trying to shore up the nation's damaged economy. the new prime minister, arseniy yatsenyuk spoke to the people. >> the hostage situation that we have in ukraine, you know our russian neighbors have made an active, aggression towards ukraine. >> western leaders are looking at economic leverage as perhaps the best response to russia's

action, economic isolation analysts are calling it. still the russians have the boots on the ground and seem to be calling the shots. president vladimir putin inspected troops fear the finisn finnish border. he says the situation was planned months ago. donetske populated with ethnic russians. that's why russian mint sergey lavrov: >> ensuring human rights especially the right to life. those who are trying to interpret the situation as a sort of aggression and threatening us with sanctions and boycotts, these are the same partners who have been consistently encouraging the political powers close to them

to declare ultimatums and renounce dialogue. >> the consequences are what the west is gathering to discuss. the eu, the u.n, the international monetary fund, all calling emergency meetings to discuss ukraine and secretary of state john kerry is expected in the ukrainian capitol on tuesday. phil itner, al jazeera, kiev. >> we are expecting results in world markets. dow fell 153 points. reaction was more severe in europe. the lon, paris and berlin markets had equal effects. david shuster is here with that part of the fast moving story. david. >> tony, this isn't the first

time that vladimir putin has us oil and gas supplies, cutting off gaz supplies to ukraine twice in the last eight years. softened the possible bite out of russia's threat. it's not hard to see why russia's first go-to weapon is oil and gas. russia provides ukraine with more than half of its natural gas needs. and russia is also the biggest gas supply europe. what makes ukraine so important is its location. the country is home of a massive network of pipelines. about half of russia's gas is exported through ukraine. any disruption would hit germany, especially hard, which depends on the gas to run its factories. five years ago after russia cut off gas supplies through ukraine over a debt dispute, worldwide prices jumped sharply. but now time is not on russia's side. winter is nearing an end and

analysts say ukraine has four to five months of gas in storage. plus mild temperatures have kept european stock piles unusually high. >> crimea which is the primary area that is affected is not really on the transit route. however lots of russian speakers there, broaden those on to the areas that are transit routes we could see those effects in terms of energy prices in europe. >> europe could rely on other sources including norway which has stepped up its production. but russia could still stock the -- shock the global markets. ripple effects here in the united states. mainly in the form of rising gas prices, that would not exactly help america's struggling economy. >> david shuster thank you. the syrian crisis will be

the major subject, foreign ministers from russia and, have already spoken. in south africa, witness testimony began in the murder trial of olympian oscar pistorius, a neighbor testified she heard screams on the morning of the murder, pistorius admits he shot her four times but he said he thought she was an intruder. deadly stabbing ra rampage a train station, left 29 dead more than 140 others were injured. attackers were separatists from a far western province. for the highest ranking al qaeda member trial has begun.

jury trial began sulemain abu gais, he is the highest ranking al qaeda leader to fairs trial in a u.s. civilian court. abu gais has pleaded not guilty. his attorneys say he has been mistaken for a detainee at guantanamo bay with the same name. freddy lee hall's attorneys say they can't execute him because he is mental loi disabled. the state will not consider him mentally disabled disputed other evidence. the state is questioning the i.q. alone to deal with this issue. as brandon trutling

mistaken, officers are creating relationships with the people they are cuffing. >> as a father of 7, mike is stretched thin. >> like a referee sometimes. >> his 15-year-old has asperger's is a form of autism. >> he descroapt a lo doesn't haa lot of empathy. >> after he had run away from home. >> hi honey how are you? >> he is part of bedford police department's victimization unit, responding to or arresting the same people for the same crime. hall makes frequent visits to mike's home becoming a familiar face to the troubled teen. >> he will talk to her. he's excited at times to see her. >> after reviewing data policeman gibson noticed a trend. victims who suffer from domestic

violence. attempting to build relationships and stop crime before it starts. >> almost become personally involved in their lives so we can establish a relationship of trust and confidence. >> okay, good. >> ken bennett a liaison officer for mental health, mental retardation group of tarrant county. making sure individuals are on current medications and treatment. reducing the number of individuals funneled into county jail and hospitals. >> without rapport we don't have intervention. when they follow up with these clients on a continuous basis they are building that rapport. >> by us interacting with them more and more and learning more about them, we can see some things that an officer has a 911 call going to that house is not going to be able to pick up on.

>> hopefully, leading to fewer calms for help. the special victimization units efforts are working. mike see a welcome change in his son. >> been in inpatient before. he has taken medicine from a psychiatrist. none of these things worked. none of them worked. this was the one single factor that i can point to that had a major effect on his life. >> a change which mike says has positively inspired his younger siblings who were once influenced by their older brother's bad action and that's good news for bedford police who is seeing far fewer arrests since the program was enacted. >> a high school student is suing her parents. 18-year-old honor student rachel canning, said her parents threw her out of the house and cut her off financially. she is asking the court to

claire her dependent, have her parents pay for her college education. her parents said canning led voluntarily and did not want her parents scrutiny. >> this is the opposite, that is being a child living under your parents' roof. maria, i channeled my own thing didn't i? >> yes you did. >> so far more than 2900 flights have been cancelled, icy roads led to huge traffic jams. take a look at this. the same storm system has dropped several inches of snow radios pennsylvania and brought washington, d.c. to a standstill. let's get you over to jelelah ahmed. she has all of these things for

you. jelelah. >> thank you tony. temperatures are not even in the teens. they are in the single digits. roughly 20 or 30° lower than they should be. that cold air continues to plunge all the way to texas. temperatures are definitely taking a dive, to san antonio and corpus christi. we were in the 70s yesterday and we are looking at winter storm warnings in effect for tomorrow morning. late tonight into tomorrow morning from austin, texas and waco area, i-35 to i-10. icy tricky mess late tonight into tomorrow morning. you need to be careful if you are on the roadways, temperatures have plunged like i said. in corpus christi and new orleans about a 30° temperature difference. back to you tony. >> appreciate it jelelah. coming up on al jazeera

america. read across america today, usually thought of as a day for children but did you know that more than 30 million adults can't read, either? we will profile a 72-year-old man who just learned how to read!

>> oh my!

>> president obama says he and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu are committed to a lasting peace. the u.s. hopes for a deal by may. libby casey is in washington, what came out of that meeting between the president and the prime minister? >> you know tony it just wrached up lasting -- wrapped up lasting longer than expected. we saw the president and the prime minister make some public remarks to the queed at the outset of the -- to the media at the time outset of the meeting. the israeli palestinian issue. what president obama called a level of seriousness and commitment. >> it's my belief that

ultimately, it is still possible to create two states, a jewish state of israel and a state of palestine in which people are living side by side in peace and security. but it's difficult. and it requires compromise on all sides. >> jason: . >> reporter: now president obama, pointed out, an agreement hammered out by the end of apr april. netanyahu also pointed this out. the palestinians need to recognize this. >> what we all want is a peace. a real peace, not a peace of paper but a real peace. two states that recognize and

respect one another and solid security arrangements on the ground. >> now, in both of these leaders' minds is the fact that president obama is scheduled to meet with the palestinian president in just two weeks, tony. >> liby, one quick question, the summit in d.c. what have you heard from the summit? >> we'll hear secretary kerry speak in just a little while, a nuclear iran will be the subject, john mccain of arizona who blasted the administration for a feckless policy. he wants congress to impose sanctions, so that's a big issue here at apac. >> libby casey, thank you. today is read across america today, an initiative designed to encourage americans to read, childhood literacy but as many as 32 million adults in the

united states cannot read. diane eastabrook spent time with a man who is learning to read at the age of 72. >> every sunday heads to the cultural center for a date with the same woman. >> it had been two -- two -- >> in a quiet corner the 71-year-old reads sally maybrook a story he wrote. she has been his tutor. he grew up on a farm, never attending school and never learning to read. >> i want to be able to read my mail, my wife passed away, then i got to go from relative to relative, trying to get them to help me read my mail. >> according to a nonprofit group, only about 3 million are getting tutored.

literacy advocates say getting an adult to learn how to read can be a real challenge. they say literacy often needs to be tied to some sort of a goal like getting a diploma or getting a job. >> you're right. good this literacy class for low income adults provides tutoring in reading path and social studies with the goal for preparing high school students for literacy exams. programs like this are mostly funded by federal block grants to states. >> paragraph 10. >> literacy advocate becky raymond says money pays for the classes only but not other services that might get more students to attend literacy classes? >> do they need transportation, childcare, addressing some of these barriers so that they can go back and build their foundational skills. >> barnes didn't have those barriers. he started learning to read after he retired from a job at a

hotel. still being an older student was a challenge. >> when i first started learning with ms. sally, it was hard, it was hard but this is what i wanted to do. >> barnes now reads at about a third grade level but is ms. made brook's most inspiring student. >> every week was an adventure. >> it makes you feel so good! >> an adventure he says he will continue. diane eastabrook, al jazeera chicago. >> a quick break, a look at the day's top stories when we return. this is al jazeera america. education... gun control... the gap between rich and poor... job creation... climate change... tax policy... the economy... iran... healthcare... ad guests on all sides of the debate. >> this is a right we should all have... >> it's just the way it is... >> there's something seriously wrong...

>> there's been acrimony... >> the conservative ideal... >> it's an urgent need... and a host willing to ask the tough questions >> how do you explain it to yourself? and you'll get... the inside story ray suarez hosts inside story next only on al jazeera america

>> this is al jazeera america. live from new york city, this is toins. the crisis of the ukraine is deepening. russia denies it issueden an

ultimatum. this as the eu and the u.s. consider sanctions. and other measures if russia does not end military actions in ukraine. the crisis in ukraine could also impact how much i pay at the -- you pay at the pump. russia as you know is one of the world's biggest oil producers and fear of a possible disruption at the pump is driving prices higher by almost 2%. short range missiles, response to annual military exercises taking place between the u.s. and south korea. into the sea of japan. in south africa, day 1 of the oscar pistorius murder case. accused of killing his girlfriend on valentine's day last year. walt disney company indicated it will stop donating to the boy

scouts of america because of its policy banning gays in the organization, still does not allow gay leaders. inside story is next on al jazeera america. good question. today's inside story will provide the answers. hello.